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Sherpa
Lodges
Our Lodge Treks Offer the Best of Both Worlds - Great Routes and
Comfortable Accommodation
The
development of locally managed lodges along the popular trekking trails in
the Annapurna, Everest and Langtang/Helambu areas have resulted in an
increasing number of trekkers making use of these facilities. In recent
years with the help of Government as well non-Government agencies many of
these lodge owners have gone through training programs aimed at raising
the quality of services as well as instilling environmental awareness. For
example in the Annapurna Sanctuary and adjacent areas it is now regulation
for all lodge owners to use alternative fuel (fuel other than fire wood -
kerosene, gas, electric or even solar) for cooking and heating, dispose of
garbage properly and adopt other eco-friendly measures. Most lodges have
all the basic requirements for trekkers to stay overnight - a dormitory,
several private rooms, an attached restaurant, toilet and a shower room.
The quality of food offered might vary from lodge to lodge but most serve
simple and hygienic meals.
PHOTO:
Standard Lodge in Monjo- Day 1 on the trek
Peak
Freak Expeditions Inc. has found it very attractive for trekkers to use
these lodges on the routes instead of operating camping style treks. One
of the main reason being that along these popular routes almost every
house offers bed and meals and many camping trekkers find it incongruous
to camp near a lodge and not be able to experience the warmth and
hospitality of the friendly Nepali hosts. The other important reason being
that this helps the local economies directly by using the facilities along
the trail.
To
make sure that our guests do not get disappointed we stay in a comfortable
and interesting lodge in each place. With larger groups we reserve all the
beds in a lodge thus making sure that we have the place to ourselves.
Quite often our lodge trekkers are overwhelmed- by the homey atmosphere
and the grace of our hosts and many have made great friends with our
friends for many years.
If
you have an urge to trek in some of the most beautiful places in Nepal,
interact and make friends with the local people without having to sleep in
a cold and lonely tent, Lodge Trekking is just the thing for you.
Nepalese
Food-Sherpa Food a Food Fiesta
Nepal serves cuisine
from around the world!
As
facilities for travelers in Nepal are ever improving so too is the variety
and quality of food being offered.
Fifteen
years ago, visitors to Nepal had a choice of rice and lentils (dal bhat)
or lentils and rice. Today,
it is not uncommon to find items as diverse as Norwegian Salmon, Cajun
chicken and imported sashimi on the menus of Kathmandu’s finer
hotels and restaurants.
Authentic Italian pizza is available, cooked in a wood pizza oven
by a genuine Neapolitan. Ice creams, Austrian sausages, French baguettes,
and Spatzle are all part of the ever expanding Kathmandu kitchen.
Even
outside of the capital one can find good food. The lakeside resort town of
Pokhara is filled with restaurants serving Continental and Asian food Even
Mexican dishes are known to make it onto the
menus. Along the popular trekking trails as well are plenty of teashops
and lodges with surprisingly diverse menus.
In
the mountains,
it is generally better to stick to dishes prepared with traditional
ingredients. This is not necessarily bad, as tin the Everest region
potatoes are the staple, while around the Annapurnas, rice is more common.
South
Asian fare is certainly a worthwhile cuisine to explore. Traditional
Nepalese, Newar and Indian restaurants are for good reason among
Kathmandu’s most popular spots. Tandoor
specialties and succulent rice dishes from India, steaming hot momo
dumplings from Tibet, and a vast assortment of dals and curries from Nepal
offer exciting flavors to initiate the neophyte into the sophisticated
world of South Asian spices.
Delicious
as they are, some people may find them difficult to digests, Knowing
one’s intestinal limits can save a lot of internal grief as some bodies
simply are not accustomed to the richness of South Asian sauces or the
heat of local chili peppers.
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